Category: Lifestyle

Well+Good 

So, you’re looking to add a versatile new pair of boots to your wardrobe, but you want to make sure they’re actually comfortable. We get it. Given the looks of the many, many ankle, calf-high, and knee-high silhouettes that are saturating the shoe market, it’s safe to say that boots are top of mind this time of year—but as with any footwear, not all boots are created equal.

Boots come with all kinds of features, like laces, hidden interior zippers for easier wear, platforms—the list goes on. Still, one boot silhouette remains the most convenient of all: the slide-on, slip-off Chelsea boot. Characterized by a stretchy side panel that lets you easily slip the shoes on and off, Chelsea boots are perfect for the person on the go, whether they’re heading out for a quick walk around the neighborhood, errand run, brunch, farmer’s market stroll, or night out with friends. Of course, not all Chelsea boots are comfortable, no matter their convenience. In addition to varying widths and stiffness, many Chelsea boots can cause major damage to your feet if you need arch support, since they often have very flat soles.

But that’s not the case with the new-ish FitFlop F-Mode Flatform Boots ($170), aka the most comfortable Chelsea boots I’ve ever slipped into.

First came the FitFlop F-Mode Flatform Leather Boots, which are sold in shiny black, brown, and plum leather. Due to their instant popularity among shoppers, the brand released the FitFlop F-Mode Flatform Suede Leather Boots, which are sold in black and light tan. Where the leather boots have black or brown soles, the suede boots have chic monochromatic soles or bright white soles which give them a modern sneaker flair that can easily be dressed up or down.

How comfortable is the FitFlop Flatform Boot? Let us count the ways.

Of course, the FitFlop F-Mode Flatform Boots offer way more than just looks. From a comfort stance, they far surpass any other Chelsea boots I’ve worn, thanks to their lightweight feel and expertly designed Microwobbleboard technology. In layman’s terms, the footbed and midsole is outfitted with three layers of targeted cushioning. Where the heel has firm cushioning to reduce impact and absorb shock, the middle is soft and highly padded to be as comfortable and supportive as possible, while the toe has medium cushioning to maximize push-off.

Photo: Author

In short, the innovative design of the footbed, combined with a slip-resistant outsole, blister-preventing ankle padding, sturdy bootstraps, and Scotchgard-protected upper puts these boots on a pedestal. (It’s worth mentioning, though, that the suede uppers can look a bit smudged, but such is often the case with any suede boots. That said, if the sight or a more worn-in upper grates your nerves, the leather option is the way to go.)

FitFlop is known for its biomechanically designed shoes that have earned the brand a Podiatrist Seal of Acceptance, as well as shopper loyalty. The W+G team has tried a variety of FitFlop’s shoes, including running sneakers and flip flops, and all have past the comfort test with flying colors.

Suffice to say, if you’re looking for a new versatile and convenient boot silhouette to add to your closet, these boots fit the bill—so much so that you may want to buy more than one color. Consider it a gift to yourself this new year.

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Carscoops 

The state of American car buying is bleak, according to a new study from insurance comparison service, Jerry. It found that customers did not get the vehicles they wanted in 2022 and yet are still spending an inadvisable amount of their income on the vehicles they do own.

Jerry sent out a survey to 1,257 vehicle owners or lessees in all 50 states across a variety of age groups to see what car buying and ownership were like last year, and what they might be like this year. Although the number of people looking to buy in 2023 remained pretty much stagnant in the study’s second year, only a quarter of people expect to buy a new car in the coming year, though more said they might be enticed if prices and interest rates fall.

Among those who bought in 2022, though, a third said they wound up buying a used vehicle instead of a new one because of limited supplies at dealerships. A quarter, meanwhile, said that they bought a make and model of vehicle that wasn’t their first choice because of the same issue.

Read: Sales Of America’s Best-Selling Vehicle Fall Again In 2022

Among owners, meanwhile, vehicle expenses are stacking up, with almost a quarter saying that they are spending more than 15 percent of their take-home pay on car payments, to say nothing of gas, insurance, and other expenses.

Two-thirds of owners reported that they had to cut down their spending in other areas because of the high cost of owning a vehicle. Nearly a third said they spent less on family vacations, and, most alarmingly of all, a quarter of respondents said they cut back on groceries because of the cost of owning a vehicle.

“Supply-chain problems that have hit vehicle production are not fully resolved and the supply of newer used vehicles likely won’t return to normal until at least 2025,” said Henry Hoenig, the study’s author. “This means used-car prices will probably remain elevated, even if they fall somewhat from the recent highs.”

Still, a majority (61 percent) of car buyers say they will remain loyal to brick and mortar dealerships in 2023, instead of turning to online retailers. Nearly half of new car buyers say, though, that they are interested in buying or leasing an electric vehicle to help cut down on the cost of gasoline.

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Carscoops 

The Dodge Challenger might rest on a 14-year-old platform being on sale since 2008 and have a motor that both sounds like a dinosaur and runs on them, but it’s officially the tyrant king of the muscle car scene for the second straight year. Recently revealed 2022 sales figures from the big three show that it smoked competition from the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro.

That’s notable for a whole host of reasons, not least of which is the fact that both the Camaro and Mustang are far more modern. The Camaro was last fully redesigned back in 2016 while the current Mustang platform came out a year earlier in 2015. Since those times, each one has seen numerous hardware and software improvements.

The Challenger hasn’t rested completely on its laurels but it’s certainly leveraged its old-school cool styling and drivetrain to the full. Dodge is the only one of the three to offer its muscle car without a fuel-efficiency-focused four-cylinder engine. Despite that, it led the three in 2022 with 55,060 Challenger sales. Ford came in second by selling 47,566 Mustangs and Chevrolet was far behind with just 24,652 Camaro sales in 2022.

More: Dodge To Unveil Final Last Call Challenger Special On March 20th

Interestingly, of the three muscle cars, Chevrolet ended up with the largest increase in sales over 2021 with a 12 percent bump. Ford is the only one of the three to see a drop off in popularity, a 9 percent drop off, from last year’s high of 52,414 units. Some of that might have to do with the fact that buyers could be waiting for the all-new 2024 Mustang to make its way to dealers.

The Challenger and its four-door brethren the Charger accounted for the only increase in sales that Dodge experienced this year. The Durango was down 12 percent while the rest of the lineup basically went out of production. It’ll be interesting to see how things shake out for Dodge over the next year or two.

We expect to see the wraps come off of the very last “Last Call” Dodge Charger later this year. Once it and the Challenger leave production, Dodge will need to migrate its customers to a largely new lineup with new technology.

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Well+Good 

Laundry detergent products—necessary as they are to clean clothes and keep them fresh—often carry an environmental price tag. Many are formulated with chemical ingredients that are potentially harmful to our health and the environment and come packaged in plastic, a major source of pollution. Consumers hoping to find more eco-friendly cleaning products in order to lighten their load on the planet might have considered replacing those large plastic flagons of laundry detergent in favor of greener alternatives. One product that presents itself as a solution are “eco-friendly” laundry detergent sheets, which are purported to contain fewer ingredients that pollute air and waterways and less plastic.

What are laundry detergent sheets?

Also known as laundry detergent strips or squares, “laundry detergent sheets are highly concentrated, liquid-less detergents designed to replace the typical liquid, powdered, or pod laundry detergent options,” according to Sydney Swanson, a science analyst at the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

Laundry detergent sheets are pre-measured to ensure you aren’t using too much detergent—a common laundry mistake. Typically, one strip is enough for a regular load of laundry, and it will dissolve in the washing machine. Some variations can also serve as dryer sheets, so you don’t need to purchase any, saving you extra money and storage space.

Do dissolvable laundry detergent sheets work?

According to Patric Richardson, host of the Discovery+ show The Laundry Guy and author of Laundry Love and How to Love Your Laundry, the performance of laundry detergent sheets will vary from brand to brand. “You have to try a few options to find one that works for you,” says Richardson. To determine the general quality of laundry detergent sheets before you buy them, you may also find it helpful to read honest reviews written by everyday people on websites or blogs.

Are “eco-friendly” laundry detergent sheets really better for the environment?

In many ways, laundry detergent sheets live up to their eco-friendly credentials. You will commonly find them packaged in small cardboard boxes. “This packaging is often chosen intentionally by companies to avoid contributing to the ongoing plastic pollution crisis,” says Swanson. What’s more, they are usually smaller and lighter weight than the usual dumbbell-heavy detergent bottles, requiring less fuel to ship—and thereby, reducing environmental impact.

However, it’s important to consider that most laundry detergent sheets contain polyvinyl alcohol, or PVA, a water-soluble plastic. While PVA is fully biodegradable, the process can only take place under very specific conditions. Wastewater treatment facilities in the US typically cannot meet these conditions, according to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. “PVA can end up back in the environment after the wash cycle, and though some have debated the biodegradability of PVA, EWG does not consider it to be a persistent chemical,” says Swanson—a trade-off for the convenience laundry detergent sheets can offer you.

As with many other cleaning products, some laundry detergent sheets on the market do not fully disclose their ingredient mixture—and for Swanson, transparency is important. “All consumers should know exactly what is in their products so they can make the best decision for their health and the environment,” she says.

What To Look for in an Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent

Regardless of whether you want to buy laundry detergent sheets, there are a few important features to look for if you want your purchase to be as eco-friendly as possible.

Packaging

First, opt to purchase laundry detergent that is packaged in “cardboard, glass, or aluminum,” says Swanson. “Consumers can even look for refill shops where they can bring their own container to fill with laundry detergent.”

Weight

Secondly, you might also want to purchase a detergent—be it powdered, solid, or ultra-concentrated—that’s marketed to weigh less per load. “These options may use less energy to ship,” she says. For context, a 115-ounce bottle of conventional liquid laundry detergent (which amounts to 60 loads of laundry) might weigh a little over seven pounds. Conversely, a typical box of laundry detergent sheets will weigh much less at under one pound.

Ingredients

You might also want to consider the ingredients list. As a general rule, Richardson says to look for products that use ingredients with names that you can pronounce. “You should be able to read the ingredients and be able to pronounce them and know what they are,” he says. “The more complicated the ingredient names are, the more complicated the product—and that’s when you start dealing with things that you don’t want.”

Common ingredients you might want to avoid, include methylisothiazolinone and benzothiazolinone, which are “aquatic toxicants,” according to Swanson. Unfortunately, many laundry detergents contain aquatic toxicants, and it might seem impossible to avoid them. But what you can do is select products that have as little of them as possible.

Swanson adds that halogenated organic compounds are harmful to the environment as well as ethoxylated surfactants—“they can be contaminated with high levels of 1,4-dioxane, which also does not readily degrade in the environment.” There’s also quaternary ammonium (or quats), another potential aquatic toxicant that’s often found in laundry detergents that double as fabric softeners.

And while fragrance often leaves our clothes fresher smelling, Swanson says “certain fragrances and synthetic musks can be aquatic toxicants and can also release harmful volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere,” adding, “VOCs can deplete the ozone and directly and indirectly contribute to climate change.” If you want to avoid the harmful impact certain fragrances may have on the environment, consider purchasing fragrance-free products.

Environmental certifications

There is no legal or standard definition of what makes a detergent “eco-friendly,” “biodegradable,” or “non-toxic”—“this ‘greenwashing’ is often just a marketing ploy,” says Swanson. Instead of relying on marketing terms, you can refer to the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning, which provides safety ratings for common household products. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also offers a list of safer products on their Safer Choice website to help consumers narrow down their choices.

Another tip from Richardson? Purchase laundry detergent products from brands that you trust. “Stores that you trust vet their products—and they want you to have great products,” he says. “If it doesn’t work, start asking around for other recommendations.”

Eco-friendlier Laundry Detergent Products

4 Ways To Make Laundry Day More Eco-Friendly

1. Use less detergent

Regardless of which laundry detergent you use, Richardson says to use less of it. “You don’t need as much as is very often suggested, and using less product allows it to last longer,” he says. When you aren’t purchasing laundry detergent as often, you’re also doing your part to avoid unnecessary shipping.

2. Do less laundry

“Quite frankly, I wear my jeans nine or 10 times before I wash them,” says Richardson. “The ultimate act of being sustainable with your laundry is just doing it less.” You’ll be using less water, energy, and less product. A win-win-win situation.

3. Wash with cold water

“Laundering in cold water can have a big impact on reducing one’s environmental footprint,” says Swanson. “A large portion of the energy used by a washing machine during the laundering process goes to heating the water.”

When washing clothes in the cold water, opt to use a cold-water detergent for the best clean. Consider pre-treating stains, too. “I’m a huge fan of vinegar to remove stains,” says Richardson. “I just treat stains with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water—and for a lot of things, that’s enough.”

4. Air-dry clothes when possible

If the option is available to you, opt to hang-dry clothes instead of baking them in the dryer. “It’s not only better for the environment, but also better for clothes,” Richardson says. “The safer we are on our clothes, the longer they last—and that’s a huge part of sustainability.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Are laundry detergent sheets cheaper than liquid laundry detergent?

Laundry detergent sheets can cost anywhere from $15 to $20 for boxes of 30 or 60 sheets (or $2 or $3 per laundry load), which is comparable to what you might pay for conventional liquid laundry detergents.

What can I use instead of laundry detergent sheets?

There are a wide range of alternatives—like powders, tablets, and liquids—to laundry detergent sheets. As mentioned, if you’re concerned about the environmental impact your product might have, select an option that’s lightweight, packaged in recyclable materials, and made with fewer (and potentially harmful) chemical ingredients.

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Carscoops 

Ram’s long-awaited rival to the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1-T is still at least a year away from showrooms, but judging by the Ram Revolution 1500 BEV Concept unveiled today, it might just be worth the wait.

Stellantis’ toughest brand pulled back the covers on its pickup EV at CES 2023 in Las Vegas, and it’s not only the rig’s electric drivetrain that makes that venue appropriate. Because the Revolution is loaded with gadgets features including steering wheel-mounted displays, a removable dashboard display and autonomous capabilities that allow the truck to roll behind you as you walk across your work site.

Ram has left some major blanks in the published drivetrain specification, saying only that the Revolution rides on the new Stellantis STLA Frame platform, has all-wheel drive courtesy of a bi-motor setup, multi-height air suspension and four-wheel steering with 15 degrees of rear-wheel articulation.

It also tells us that its 800-volt architecture can charge at up to 350 kW, enabling the Revolution to add 100 miles (161 km) of range in just 10 minutes, while an available inductive robot charger designed for home use will move itself into position automatically to top the battery up (at a slower rate). We also know from earlier Stellantis presentations that trucks built on the STLA Frame platform should have a driving range of up to 500 miles (800 km).

Related: Ram Thinks It Can Take Advantage Of Being Late To The Electric Pickup Game

But power figures? Nothing yet. We’ll have to wait a little longer to find out exactly how many horses are under the skin of next year’s production model, but we do at least now have a good idea what that truck will look like.

Previous teasers had tipped us off about the tuning fork-shape LED headlight motif, the illuminated badge and strong fender creases, but the full exterior images reveal a truck with a much sportier, and less blocky shape than its Ford and Rivian rivals deliver. The pinched waist, rising windowline and angled C-pillar combine with the flared front and rear arches to make the Revolution a genuinely athletic-looking truck – like a Chevy Silverado EV after a month on a keto diet – though some of us here wonder whether it’s square-jawed enough to suit American tastes.

Whatever you think of the shape, it certainly has some neat modern details, including flush-fit door handles and wheel center caps whose Ram name stays level at all times, just like the double-R logo on a Rolls-Royce’s rims. But more importantly, Ram says that the compact electric motors allowed its designers to shift the cabin forward and increase it by 4-in (102 mm) compared with today’s combustion trucks, while retaining the same bed length.

Six seats and space to carry 18-ft loads

That extra space, plus the rear suicide doors and absence of B-pillar, will help make the Ram’s interior feel roomier when you climb in and out,  and if you need even more people carrying there are two jump seats fitted to the powered mid-gate (the fold-down rear firewall that separates the bed from the cabin). Don’t need the extra seats? Drop the mid-gate and you can pass items right through from the rear to the frunk, meaning skinny objects up to 18-ft (5.5 m) can be carried with the tailgate closed.

A “Ram Track” rail system is fitted right the way through the Revolution to provide anchoring points and flexible loading, and the console can turn into a workstation, further underlining the truck’s practical nature. The lower of the two 14.2-in infotainment screens can be detached and used as a tablet, which sounds like a great idea unless you have kids who are bound to run off with it. That screen, which allows you to control functions in your house, can also be combined with its sister display to create one huge viewing area, and if that’s still not big enough, the Revolution’s exterior projectors can be used to set up an impromptu 1950s-style drive-in movie theater.

Level 3 autonomy, Level 99 connectivity

But there’s nothing retro about the Ram’s augmented reality head-up display or the voice-activated virtual assistant that will obey spoken commands to open and close windows or even trot along behind you in Shadow Mode. This feature is bundled in with the Ram’s Level 3 autonomous package and uses information from sensors and cameras to allow the truck to follow a walking driver at a safe distance. Don’t know about you, but we reckon we’d feel a little uneasy about a circa-6,500 lbs (2,950 kg), 6.5-ft (2 m) wide pickup creeping along behind us with nobody at the wheel.

Though the Revolution as seen at CES is only a concept, it’s a thinly-disguised version of the 2025 production truck and there’s a good chance that much of the tech seen here will make the cut, or at least make the options list. We’ll know for sure when Ram reveals the full production Revolution in 2024 with a starting price likely to closely match the $55,975 jumping off point for its Ford F-150 Lightning rival.

Would you hold off buying an F-150 Lightning, Chevy Silverado EV or Rivian to get a Ram Revolution based on what you’ve seen here? Leave a comment below and let us know whether you think it will be worth waiting for.

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Well+Good 

Brr! It’s cold outside. And if here’s one thing that can help me survive New York City’s cold weather, besides a warm puffer coat, it’s a reusable water bottle. But not just any will do. I need something that can actually keep my matcha latte piping hot as I’m walking around the city as well as my water refreshingly cool as I go into beast mode at the gym. Thankfully, Hydro Flask’s Seasonal Sale is here to help.

In one of the brand’s few sales of the year, you can now take home a slew of their top-rated water bottles and tumblers for a whooping 35 percent off!  This includes everything from Hydro Flask’s 12-ounce tumbler for smaller beverages to its massive 128-ounce water bottle that’s perfect for camping trips and serving large parties. So, no matter if you’re looking to increase your water intake or score a more eco-friendly way to quench your thirst, now’s the time to stock up on the brand’s best-selling essentials. But be sure to act fast—the sale runs only until supplies last. And given the high durability of these bottles, chances are, that’s likely to be sooner rather than later.

To help make things easier, we’ve curated some of the top picks from the savings event for you to take a peek below—you’re welcome!

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Carscoops 

Amazon has used CES to announce a handful of automotive-related developments including the launch of Ring Car Cam, which was originally introduced in 2020.

Starting with the latter, Ring Car Cam is now available for pre-order and pricing starts at $199.99 but will increase to $249.99 after the initial introduction offer expires.  It’s slated to begin shipping on February 15th and bring 24/7 security features to cars.

A high-tech alternative to traditional dashcams, the Ring Car Cam features front and rear facing cameras as well as a built-in microphone and speaker.  It plugs into your car’s OBD-II port and this enables it to receive power as well as vehicle information, which can trigger recordings even when your car is turned off.

Also: Ring Jumps Into Car Business With Dashcam, Alarm And Connect System For Your Ride

As an example, if a break-in is detected, the device will start recording and send you a real-time alert via the Ring app.  Users can then see a live video of what’s happening and use the speaker to potentially scare off the thief.  If that fails, at least you’ll have video of the suspect.

The device can also record if accidents are detected and users can manually start recording at anytime by saying “Alexa, record.”  When the latter occurs, the Car Cam will record for several minutes and Ring says this would be useful during traffic stops by police.

The Car Cam comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and stores videos locally. However, to get the most out of the device, you’ll want to get the optional Ring Protect Go subscription, which costs $6 per month or $60 per year. It provides an LTE connection, which allows for real-time notifications and video streaming on the go.  The subscription also saves videos to the cloud for up to 180 days and this ensures you’ll still have video even if your car is stolen.

Since privacy is always a consideration when you’re using an internet connected camera, the Car Cam has a privacy shutter on the interior camera as well as a light that indicates when the microphone and interior camera are recording.  Ring also said the device supports optional end-to-end encryption.

The Car Cam costs more than many traditional dashcams, but Ring noted “cars aren’t just expensive investments, they’re a lifeline for many, with 76% of U.S. adult commuters depending on their vehicle to get to and from work.”  The company went on to say car security products are one of the most requested items from current owners and note a car was stolen every 39 seconds in the United States in 2020.

While the Car Cam can give people peace of mind, it isn’t compatible with every vehicle. Ring has a partial incompatibility list on their website and it includes an assortment of models including the 2006-2022 Acura MDX, 2006-2016 Honda CR-V, and 2020-Present Mercedes GLE and GLC crossovers.  There’s more on the list and it’s probably safe to say vehicles without an OBD-II port won’t work.

Alexa Gains New Capabilities For EVs

Besides gearing up to launch the Ring Car Cam, Amazon announced a few updates surrounding Alexa. In particular, the voice assistant is embracing electric vehicles as it will “help them find, navigate to, and pay for public charging spots through a simple voice request such as, ‘Alexa, find an EV charging station near me.’”

Amazon says Alexa will have access to real-time availability for more than 150,000 public charging stations in the United States and EVgo is the first to offer voice-initiated payments for charging. To initiate the latter, users simply need to say “Alexa, pay for my charge.”

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Well+Good 

There’s nothing quite like an understated, lit-from-within radiance. And makeup allows you to get that look even on days when you feel anything but glowy. A great way to fake it while keeping your makeup looking as natural as possible is to try out the latest trend on TikTok—underpainting. It’s when you put on bronzer, blush, contour, and concealer either in lieu of or before foundation.

“Underpainting is a classic makeup technique where you create structure and depth on the face before you do foundation,” says Mary Irwin, a celebrity makeup artist who has been in the industry for nearly two decades. “It’s a very old technique first used by painters, particularly oil painters! It adds a lot of depth to the skin and can look more natural than regular techniques.”

@katiejanehughes Underpainting? A make up technique check it out!!! ##fyp##makeuptricks##kjh##celebmakeup##blushhack##bronzerhack ♬ original sound – Katiejanehughes

If you want to give underpainting a try, Irwin says to use cream products. Work with a light hand and get ready to create the your-skin-but-better look that dreams are made of. “This has been one of my favorite techniques for a flawless face for years and I’m so happy the rest of the world knows about this technique now,” says Irwin. Below, she shares how to underpaint and some of her favorite products to help you do it.

How to try out underpainting for a natural makeup look

1. Ready yourself to apply without blending

Typically, when you apply bronzer, blush, and contour, you want to blend them into the skin until they look natural. But with underpainting, you’ll want to resist that urge and leave them stark until step five.

2. Start with bronzer

“Apply cream bronzer on the high points of the face—think about where the sun naturally hits,” says Irwin. This means targeting the tops of your cheekbones, your temples, your nose, and your chin. Irwin loves the Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer ($20). It comes in five slightly shimmery shades and is packed with anti-inflammatory green tea extract and mango butter.

3. Add blush

Next, “apply cream blush on the apple of the cheek, or on the cheekbone,” says Irwin. Her go-to cream blush is the Rituel de Fille Color Nectar Pigment Balm ($24), which comes in five gorgeous shades. “They’re so hydrating and the pigment quality is so good,” says Irwin. “And because they have a jelly texture, I feel like they don’t catch, even on dry skin—the color goes on evenly.”

When it comes to picking a color, this is the perfect time to go bold. “When underpainting, don’t be afraid to use a blush that’s brighter than you might normally try,” says Irwin. “You’ll end up sheering it out with blending, and with putting concealer or possibly foundation over it.”

4. Contour

“Contour in your usual places—hollow of the cheek and structure the nose if you want,” says Irwin. The Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick ($30) is a great option, explains makeup artist Melissa Hurkman. “They have a cooler undertone so it helps sculpt the skin,” says Hurkman. “This formula blends out like butter—it’s incredible.”

5. Soften the edges, but still don’t blend!

“Don’t blend it all like you normally would, yet,” says Irwin. Instead, softly blend the edges of each product with its own dedicated brush. “You’ll want several blending brushes. Ideally, you’ll have one brush for each item—a cream blush brush, a cream bronzer brush, a contour brush, a concealer brush, and a general face blending brush. Using one brush for every product can muddy the final look.”

6. Add concealer and blend

“Then apply concealer just where you need it, and buff it all out,” says Irwin. Her favorite concealer is the Surratt Perfectioniste Concealer Palette ($58). “It gives you a huge range of coverage whether you need just a hint of concealer or a whole I-definitely-didn’t-sleep-last-night’s worth,” she says.

7. Finish with foundation, if you’d like

For many, this trick is enough to make skin look naturally smooth sans foundation. “But if you still need coverage, you can layer foundation over the top,” says Irwin. Just make sure you don’t use a heavy foundation. The point of it is that it looks very natural and you can see the skin through the makeup.” The Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation ($30) is a really great option. It’s super breathable and can be built up to achieve medium coverage.

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Carscoops 

Ram will finally unveil its entry into the electric pickup truck segment on January 5 at 5:30 p.m. eastern time. The automaker has chosen the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to unveil the near-production concept version of what will likely prove to be its most significant model of the decade.

Ram has been teasing the Revolution Concept for some time now, and even went so far as to preview the truck’s design with a video focusing on its clay model. Details on the concept, and by extension the production vehicle that will be based on it, remain sparse, though.

We know, however, that the truck will be based on Stellantis’ upcoming STLA Frame platform for large electric vehicles. At a presentation in 2021, the conglomerate revealed that the frame will measure between 220.5 and 244.1 inches (5,600 – 6,200 mm) in length.

More: Ram Teases ‘Fierce, Slick, Heroic’ Revolution Electric Truck Ahead Of CES Debut

That size will allow vehicles based on the platform to lug around 159-200+ kWh worth of battery packs, which would give said vehicle up to 500 miles (800 km) of driving range on a single charge.

Stellantis said at the time that its STLA platforms will be able to utilize both 400V and 800V technology and to be powered by motors with outputs ranging from 201 hp (150 kW/204 PS) all the way up to 885 hp (660 kW/897 PS).

Based on the competition, we anticipate that the latter powertrain will be selected for this truck. Indeed, Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. has said in the past that the Revolution “push past” its competitors, and that his brand is “not willing to sacrifice our most core attributes that make a truck a truck,” such as towing and hauling.

More details about the truck, its design, and the tech tricks that Ram buyers can look forward to will be revealed later today, when the automaker takes to the CES show stage to reveal the Ram Revolution concept. You can watch the live event as it happens below.

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Well+Good 

The cold, flu, and cold sore season is upon us, which means it’s time to fill your refrigerator with foods that will help keep both your immune system and your mood up. Enter lysine, a component of protein that has been proven to improve health in a multitude of ways. Here we’ll learn about the key ways that lysine benefits your body and where you can find it naturally in foods.

What is lysine?

Lysine is an essential amino acid, or building block of protein in our bodies. There are 20 known amino acids and of those, there are nine that cannot be created by the body and must be consumed. These are considered to be essential amino acids. Interestingly, our bodies don’t store excess amino acids, so it’s crucial that we consume them every day through foods. Without amino acids, your body start to break down muscle tissues to extract the amino acids it needs to carry out vital functions.

Health benefits of lysine

Beyond being a vital building block of protein, lysine has so many unique health benefits. At the cellular level, lysine is essential in carnitine production. Carnitine is a nutrient that converts fatty acids into energy and also helps to lower cholesterol.

Lysine can also aid in the absorption of calcium in the body, helping to prevent osteoporosis. Plus, it helps to form collagen, supporting all the connective tissues in the body, like muscle, tendons, and ligaments, while speeding up wound healing.

Lysine has also been found to be effective in reducing anxiety and cortisol levels. Cortisol is our main stress-hormone and circulation of excess cortisol in the body can have cascading effects, from slowed metabolism to reduced immune system function.

One of the more notable benefits of lysine is its effect on herpes simplex virus (HSV)—both types 1 and 2, otherwise known as cold sores or genital herpes. One study found that lysine consumption of over three grams per day improved participants’ recovery time during a flare. The herpes virus feeds on arginine, another amino acid, and lysine is an antimetabolite of arginine. This means that with increased lysine intake, arginine-fueled viral growth is limited. Those who are wanting to take hold of their HSV symptoms through diet should focus on both increasing sources of lysine in their diet while limiting sources of arginine as much as possible. Arginine is essential for viral replication of any kind throughout the body, so these benefits span to all viruses. Plus, lysine helps produce vital hormones and other immune cells like antibodies.

Translation? Lysine is a big player in your overall immune health, and it’s a key part of maintaining your mental health and mood, too. Bonus lysine benefits include potential for improved blood sugar and blood pressure control.

8 lysine foods to stock up on

Most people don’t get enough lysine in their diet. Because it’s an essential amino acid, symptoms associated with deficiency can include fatigue, anemia, nausea, dizziness, decreased appetite, agitation, and slowed growth and healing. The daily recommended intake for lysine is generally somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 mg per day but a good rule of thumb is to shoot for at least 1,000 mg every day. Here are some of the best food sources to help you get your daily dose.

1. Chicken

Chicken is not only a great source of lean protein, but it really delivers when it comes to lysine. A mere three ounces of boneless, skinless chicken breast provides 2,621 mg of lysine. As if you needed another reason to make chicken tikka masala this weekend…

2. Tofu

A tasty plant-based protein, tofu is an incredible vegan option for meeting your daily lysine needs. One cup of firm tofu contains 2,225 mg of lysine, giving meat a real run for its money.

3. Seafood

Oysters, shrimp, tuna, and even king crab are all packed with lysine. Just one king crab leg will pretty much knock out your lysine needs for the day, containing a whopping 2,257 mg of lysine, while three ounces of tuna offers an equally impressive 2,335 mg.

4. Spirulina

If you haven’t yet heard of this buzzworthy superfood, spirulina is a kind of blue-green algae that flourishes in both fresh and saltwater. It is absolutely packed with antioxidants and nutrients, including lysine. Just two tablespoons provides 420 mg of lysine.

5. Dairy products

While many have written off dairy for one reason or another, there’s no arguing that these products contain many of the different amino acids, including lysine. An eight ounce glass of milk boasts 691 mg of lysine, low-fat ricotta cheese provides a noteworthy 1,678 mg per half cup, and cream cheese offers 2,859 mg per two ounces.

6. Legumes

Legumes are great meatless protein options that also provide a hefty dose of fiber and micronutrients. They also contain amounts of lysine that will help you meet your daily goals. For example, per cup, canned navy beans contain 1,381 mg, green peas have 502 mg, and lentils have about 1,300 mg.

7. Eggs

With 452 mg of lysine per one large egg, these conveniently-packaged protein bombs are great sources of lysine. There is lysine in both the yolk and the white, so to get the most bang for your buck, spring for the whole egg—duh.

8. Quinoa

Beyond being an incredible source of fiber and antioxidants that can help protect against chronic illness like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, quinoa also delivers in the lysine department. One cup gets you 452 mg closer to your daily needs.

Whether it be to soften anxiety, boost your immune system, or speed recovery from a cold sore, lysine is a great addition to your diet for so many reasons. These foods can help you meet your lysine goals both seamlessly and deliciously.

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